Many people think of hospitals as a place where people go to improve their health condition. However, it takes many people to run a hospital properly, and many things are constantly happening at once. For this reason, work injuries occur in hospitals more often than you would imagine.
The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) cites that have hospitals in the United States are a highly dangerous place to work. In a single year, more than 253,000 hospital workers reported job-related injuries, which means 6.8 out of every 100 hospital employees suffered injuries. This is twice as high as the rate for the entire private industry.
The reality is that hospitals are dangerous places to work for many reasons. Healthcare workers put themselves at risk for the good of the public, and they do suffer injuries on a regular basis. Fortunately, these healthcare employees have the right to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits if they suffer injuries on the job. Anyone injured should contact a workers’ compensation lawyer as soon as possible.
Common Hospital Injuries
There are certain injuries that are common in healthcare settings due to the work required by employees. Some risky – yet necessary – tasks include:
- Regularly lifting, moving, or supporting patients
- Treating patients with communicable diseases and infections
- Handling bodily fluids on a regular basis
- Handling sharp objects
- Assisting with surgical procedures
- Communicating with emotional and stressed family members
All of the above can lead to many types of accidents and injuries. Some common accidents are as follows:
- Sprains, strains, and other injuries due to overexertion
- Bacterial infections or viruses from patients
- Skin disorders or respiratory conditions due to toxic exposure
- Violence due to inadequate security
- Puncture wounds from needles or other equipment
- Slip and falls if spills are not properly cleaned up
While all of the above are common, OSHA reports that injuries due to overexertion or bodily reactions make up the majority of hospital injuries. A back injury or soft tissue injury can require weeks of physical therapy, and a healthcare worker might not be able to perform their job in the meantime. It is important that they receive the workers’ compensation benefits they deserve for their injuries and losses.
Hospitals and medical centers should know of the risks of injury to their employees. However, many people experience hiccups in the workers’ compensation claims process. Any delay or denial can cause unnecessary stress and complications in your life if you suffered injuries working in a hospital. Never hesitate to seek help from a workers’ compensation lawyer in Freehold to make the claims process easier or to represent you in an appeal case.
Contact Our Freehold Workers’ Compensation Attorneys for Help
Healthcare workers put themselves at risk to help the public, and they deserve the necessary benefits if they are injured. If you need to file a claim, contact our workers’ compensation attorney Erik Yngstrom at Lomurro Law for help. Call 732-482-9285 or contact us online today.